Wintertime tips for pond fishing

I frequent a small ~one-acre pond with channel cats. It starts shallow at one end and just gets deeper as you go to the other end. Any tips on how I should be hitting this pond now that the weather is getting colder? Should I fish the deep or shallow end, fish the bottom vs a few feet up? Does the strategy change for night vs day?

I would set up a couple poles different ways and at different depths and let the fish "tell me" what they wanted.

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thats sound advise there.

dogfish's, chum is a definate plus too!

i have also noticed that, in cold water they are real touchy most of the time. i mean dont use a clicker. i have had times at ice out that i had to pull line off the reel and lay it in the grass. they would spit it,if felt funny, even in free spool and no clicker. you need to be ready to hit them before the gig is up. most times in a pond ill use a small bobber at different depths,with very small gills(3in. or smaller) or cutbait.

i have also noticed that, in cold water they are real touchy most of the time. i mean dont use a clicker. i have had times at ice out that i had to pull line off the reel and lay it in the grass. they would spit it,if felt funny, even in free spool and no clicker. you need to be ready to hit them before the gig is up. most times in a pond ill use a small bobber at different depths,with very small gills(3in. or smaller) or cutbait.

good luck guys and please share what you learn.

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100% true. They will not hit the bait for very long, so be prepared to set the hook as soon as they hit it. It wouldn't suprise me if you snag a few that way. In the winter I probably snag 20-30% of my fish.

I agree if it is legal in your state put lines everywhere any let them tell you where they are at and what they want. Use different baits when you start the trip off. When you get consistant hits on one bait at a certain depth your set.